Folding umbrella.



J. M. BEAVER. FOLDING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION nun MAR. 25, 1913.

1,073,562. P n ed Sept. 16, 1913.

2 SHEETBSHEET 1.

Inventor Witnesses Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII cm. WASHINGTON. u. c

J. M. BEAVER.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1013.

1 73,562, Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor b I y r MM Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., wummron. D. c.

JOHN MITCHELL BEAVER, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1 6,1913.

Application filed March 25, 1913. Serial No. 756,782.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. liiniivsa, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort "orth, in the county of Tlarrant aiul State of Texas,have invented a new and useful Folding Umbrella, of which the followingis a SPQClfiCltiOll.

The present invention appertains to fold ing umbrellas, and relatesparticularly to an improvement over the folding umbrella disclosed in myformer application filed March 28, 1911, Serial Number 617,332.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved :foldable or collapsible umbrella which may be collapsed intoan extremely small compass, and which may be opened and closed with easeand despatch.

It is also the object of the present invention to improve certaindetails of construction in order to increase the clliciency and utilityof the umbrella.

lVith the foregoing general objects outlined, and with other objectsinview, which will be apparent as the nature of the inven tion is betterunderstood, the presentdnvention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construetion hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmental elevation of the framework of the umbrella, asopen. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental perspective illustrating theconnection between the rib sections. Figs. 3 and 1 are sectional detailstaken on the lines 33 and lc l: of Fig. 2, respectively. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the umbrella after being folded to its initial orprimary folded position, parts being broken away. Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 5, showing the ribs in their final collapsed or foldedposition, and showing the removable section of the staff detached. Fig.7 is a perspective View of the tube. Fig. 8 is a fragmental view of thestaff, the tube and runner being shown in section.

In carrying out the invention, reference being had in detail to thedrawing, the staff embodies the two sections or parts 1 and 2 which arepreferably fashioned from wood although other materials may be employed.The upper section 1 forms the main section of the statl, whereas thesection 2 provides a detachable handle portion. A tube 3 is slidable onthe lower end of the section 1, the section 1 tern'iinating within thetube 3, and the upper end of the handle section 2 is reduced, as at l,so as to fit within the lower end of the tube 3. The reduced portion 41is provided with a downwardly facing catch 5 engageable through a slot 6provided in the tube 3 adjoining its lower end, in order that the catchmay engage the tube to normally lock the handle section againstremovability, unless the catch 5 is depressed or disengaged from thetube. "he adjoining sections 1 and 2 have secured thereto the cushions 7which may be of leather, rubber or other resilient compressiblematerial, the cushions 7 being adapted to abut tightly when the sectionsof the staff are engaged to the tube. The section 1 carries a spring:atch 8 engageable through a slot 9 provided in the tube 2-3 adjoiningits upper end, and is further provided with an upwardly facing springcatch 10 passing through an elongated slot 11 provided in the tube 3intermediate its ends, the slots 6, 9 and 11 all being on the same sideand in alinement.

The ribs are pivoted to the main section 1 of the statl as usual, theupper end of the tube 3 being normally spaced below the pivotal point ofthe ribs. Each rib embodies an inner pivoted section 12 and an outersliding section 13, the section 12 being U-shapcd in cross section andthe section 13 being circular in cross section, and preferably solid.The section 13 telescopes into the section 12, the outer end of thesection 12 being provided with a pair of lips 14 bent or struck towardeach other so as to completely embrace the section 13. The inner end ofthe section 13 is bent back through the slot provided in the section 12as denoted by the numeral 15, and the said end is also bowed toward thebody of the section 13 as designated by the numeral 16. The slotprovided between the edges of the section 12 is slightly narrower inwidth than the diameter of the section 13, so that the section 1.3 maybe snugly retained within the section 12, the bight provided by thereflexed end 15 being provided with the opposite grooves 23 engaged bythe edges of the section 12. The reflexed end 15, or

rather the bowed portion 16, is flattened and adapted to snap over thelips 14. as the rib is extended and retracted.

The stretchers 17 are pivoted to the runner 18 slidable on the tube 3,and are pivoted to their outer ends to terminal eyes formed on therespective reflected ends 15 of the outer or sliding sections of theribs, the outer ends of the stretchers 17 being bifurcated or forked soas to straddle the reflexed ends 15, and rivets or pivot pins 20 beingpassed through the bifurcated portions 19 and the eyes of the reflexedends 15. Braces 21 are pivoted to the upper end of the tube 3 and theirouter ends are pivoted to intermediate points of the stretchers 17 bymeans of clamps 22 embracing the stretchers 17 and to which the braces21 are pivoted.

The parts of the umbrella as thus described, may be readily andinexpensively manufactured and assembled, the present umbrellaconstruction being simple, durable and compact as well as convenient,eificient and serviceable in its use.

In use, it being understood, of course, that the textile or fabriccovering is attached to the respective sections of the ribs, the handlesection 2 is engaged within the lower end of the tube 3, and thedownwardly facing catch 8 is engaged through the slot 9 of the tube 3,so that the cushions 7 will abut tightly in order to hold the staffsections in position relative to each other so as to eliminate rattlingand other objectionable qualities. The runner 18 is engageable by thecatch 10 so that the stretchers 17 maintain the sliding sections 13 ofthe ribs extended or projected. It will be noted that the catch 10 alsoengages the upper end of the slot- 11 see Fig. 8) so as to lock theupper section of the staff against moving upwardly relative to the tube3, so that the frame work will be substantial and will notbe liable tocollapse accidentally. When the sections 13 of the ribs are extended,the portions 16 of the reflexed ends 15 will snap over and pro jectbeyond the outer ends or lips let of the sections 12, the reflexed endsbeing resilient to permit a slight yielding action which is desirable.

When it is desired to fold or collapse the umbrella, the catch 10 ispushed inwardly so as to release the runner 18, and the runner 18 maythen be started downwardly on the tube 3, the catch 8 being pressedinwardly so as to release the tube 3. v The runner 18 being sliddownwardly will cause the outer ends of the stretchers 17 to be swungtoward the staff with the braces 21, and consequently, the ribs will notonly be folded toward the stafi'. but will be telescoped, the outersections 13 being slid into the sections 12, as seen in Fig. 5. Whentheouter sections of the ribs are thus slid inwardly, the reflexed ends15 are snapped inwardly over the lips 14 thus permitting the ribs totelescope, the notches 23 engaging the edges of the sections 12,however, to prevent the inner ends of the sections 13 from springing outof engagement with the sections 12. After the parts have been folded totheir initial or primary folded position, the handle section 2 isdetached by disengaging the catch 5 from the tube 3, and the tube maythen be slid upwardly on the main section 1 so as to further telescopethe outer sections of the ribs into the inner sections as seen in Fig.6. The reflexed ends 15 of the outer sections 13 also permit the partsto fold together compactly and within a small compass, so that theumbrella may be readily carried within a suitcase, traveling bag, or thelike.

The catch 5 is so positioned, that when the runner is slid downwardly tofold the relative parts, the runner is engaged by the catch 5, so as tolock the parts against further movement unless the catch 5 is released.This is desirable when the handle section is not to be removed, so thatthe umbrella may be carried by hand without the ribs opening.

The umbrella may be readily opened by an operation reverse to that abovedescribed,

as will be apparent, the up and down movement of the runner 18 on thetube 3 serving to extend and retract the outer or sliding sections ofthe ribs and unfold or fold the umbrella. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In anumbrella, a two part staff, a tube slidable on one part, collapsibleribs pivoted to the said part, a runner slidable on the tube, stretchersconnecting the runner and ribs, the other part'of the staff beinginsertible into the tube, catches carried by.

the parts of the staff and engageable with the tube, cushions attachedto the adjoinengaging through the said slot, telescopic.

ribs pivoted to the main section of the staff, 7

and a runner slidable on the tube and operativelyconnected to the ribs,the runner being engageable by the last mentioned catch when raised andbeing engageable by the catch of the handle section when lowered.

3. In an umbrella, a rib embodying. a pivoted U-shaped section and asliding section telescoping thereinto, the pivoted sec- In testimonythat I claim the foregoing tion having means at its outer end for comasmy own, I have hereto nflixed my slgnzi- Ietel elnbracin the slidinsection the hire in the )resence of two Witnesses.

inner end of the sliding section being re- JOHN MITCHELL BEAVER. 5flexed, the Iefiexed end being curved t0 \Vitnesses:

snap over the said means and a stretcher Gnonen R. ALLEN,

pivoted to the said reflexed end. 15. K. VJLSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

